Local Wisdom and Social Learning for Sustainable Water Resource Management : A Case Study of Ban Limthong, Amphoe Nang Rong, Changwat Buri Ram

Currently water resource management has become one of the major concerns in the world today. Problems continue to worsen and water resource management has become a significant part of many communities. Thailand currently faces increasing problems from flooding and droughts, with damage from flooding averaging over a quarter billion US dollars a year. Agricultural areas are worst hit. These issues directly affect farmers who are already poor.

This research selected Ban Lirnthong, Amphoe Nang Rang, Changwat Buri Ram for a case study. The village has successfully managed its water resource as a learning center and has passed on its experience of social learning to manage water resources and develop processes in order to establish a social network. This research will report on the complexity of local knowledge and how local people can use and adapt . such knowledge through their learning experiences in order to improve standards of living, capability to identify problems, and how they manage water resources effectively. The real power of social learning in Ban Limthong is created by local wisdom and the links among community members; moreover, the community collaborates in water resource management with other communities, and the government sector, the private sector, and NGOs. It also passes along new ideas through local specialists and lures more participants and stakeholders to take part in water resource management.